The proof is in the profit.

Criticizing affirmative action while ignoring the generational advantages of nepotism and legacy admissions. Demonizing single Black mothers while romanticizing their own ancestors who used enslaved Black women as caretakers. Believing in meritocracy while benefiting from inherited advantages unavailable to historically marginalized groups. This list goes on and on......

The proof is in the profit.

Many well-known corporations either directly participated in slavery or benefited from its economic impact. Here are ten companies that have historical ties to the slave economy:

1. JPMorgan Chase – The banking giant’s predecessor institutions accepted enslaved people as collateral and financed Southern plantations.

2. Wells Fargo – Acquired banks that previously profited from slavery.

3. Bank of America – Its predecessor, Bank of Charleston, profited from financing slave purchases.

4. Aetna – The insurance company once sold policies insuring enslaved people as property.

5. New York Life – Originally provided life insurance policies that compensated slave owners for the loss of enslaved people.

6. Lehman Brothers – Started as a cotton brokerage that profited from the slavery-driven cotton industry.

7. CSX (Railroad Company) – Railroads were built with enslaved labor and transported goods produced by enslaved workers.

8. Brown Brothers Harriman – A financial firm that profited from financing and insuring slave ships.

9. Tiffany & Co. – Originally sourced Southern cotton, which was cultivated by enslaved labor.

10. USA Today (Gannett) – The company’s predecessor published pro-slavery newspapers that supported the Confederacy.

The Lasting Impact

The financial advantages of slavery did not disappear with its abolition. Instead, they laid the foundation for corporate empires, generational wealth, and systemic racial disparities that persist today. Acknowledging this history is crucial for understanding the racial wealth gap and advocating for reparative justice.

While some of these companies have acknowledged their past ties to slavery, their wealth remains rooted in centuries of exploitation. The conversation around corporate responsibility, racial equity, and reparations continues, but history makes one thing clear: the legacy of slavery is still very much alive in today’s economic landscape.

A Call to Introspection

The reality is that many families today benefit from inherited wealth, land, and corporate structures built on the backs of enslaved laborers. Yet, some of these same individuals judge the oppressed for needing financial support, ignoring the historical injustices that necessitated such assistance. It is time for a serious self-examination and a shift from judging the oppressed to delivering justice to them instead.